MELBOURNE Storm prop Robbie Kearns says making the NSW State of Origin squad was not in his season?s calculations at the start of the year, yet he is delighted by the prospect of making a return to the representative fold.

WHEN Storm skipper Stephen Kearney runs out on to ANZ Stadium tomorrow to take on the Brisbane Broncos, he will put friendship aside as he goes head to head with good friend and former Melbourne hooker Richard Swain.

AS Melbourne Storm prepares for Sunday?s clash with the Brisbane Broncos, established Storm winger Matt Geyer says he is relishing the responsibility as incumbent five-eighth while Scott Hill remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.

MELBOURNE Storm workhorse Robbie Kearns has been rewarded for his outstanding start to the 2003 Telstra Premiership season by being named captain of the City Origin team that will take on the Country side this Friday night in Gosford.

MELBOURNE Storm fullback Robbie Ross continues to be plagued by injury and back luck following the news that he will undergo back surgery to alleviate a bulging disc, leaving him sidelined for at least two months.

ON the verge of playing his 50th NRL game this weekend, Storm forward Peter Robinson says he never expected to reach the milestone when he first moved to Melbourne from the tiny mining town of Cobar in NSW.